Monthly Archives: March 2016

The alarming rise of mob rule within mostly conservative hard-line Muslim groups is exploding on a level never seen or heard of before. Junaid Jamshed a popular music artist turned a religious folk singer is only the latest victim in the attacks carried out by lunatics who carry themselves as “lovers of the Prophet sallahu alihi asallam” or “Ashiqur Rasul” sallahu alihi wa sallam. The mentality to justify lynching anyone on the premise of defending the honour of the Prophet sallahu alihi wasallam is a cover used to force people into subjugation and tyranny to a particular group or sect.

Junaid Jamshed being beaten by mobs at Islamabad airport.

It is a deep cause for concern as these lynching mobs are fast spreading in countries like the United Kingdom as well and not only confined to tribal-ruled Pakistan. For example, a popular television commentator Mohammed Shafiq the chief executive of Ramadan Foundation was also recently subject to such barbarity. Being accused as “a defector from the way of the Prophet sallahu alihi wasallam, an MI5 agent and an insult to the Prophet sallahu alihi wasallam”.

Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadan Foundation

The pinnacle of this mentality and narrow-mindedness leads to very groups like the ‘Islamic State’ or ISIS groups gaining ground and following; a group who will slay anyone that disagrees with their version and ideals of Islam, even if they are their own parents, brothers or close acquaintances. The cause of these increasing levels of disgusting crimes and mob rule is the manipulation by ego-centric and politically motivated insincere “scholars” who feed off of people’s insecurities and inability to judge and analyse situations. Using fiery words of condemnation and threats of eternal failure should anyone of their followers fail to adhere to ‘their’ words, it leaves people hanging on every word; out of fear if they were to not follow what these ill-fated scholar say, they will unavoidably fall out of the love, mercy and salvation of Allah. To add to this, these ‘scholars’ carry themselves as though they are the *only* beings with the keys to Allah’s mercy, salvation in the hereafter and the means to people’s ultimate success. So much so it is as if Allah himself must ask permission from them before he admits anyone into paradise or his mercy! Astagfirullah. Which ultimately leads to people in whole-heartedly believe should they fail to deliver on their words, promises and commands they will be flung head long into hell and earn the eternal condemnation of Allah.

These evil scholars in the guise of religiosity play on people’s want and desire to have peace and salvation. All the while growing their own empires by taking generous donations from naive cult followers with promises of healing and betterment. The seed of manipulation and entrapment, the feeling of not being able to see any other ways to the grace of Allah other than only through a person’s own group or sect is the beginning on the road to extremist mentality. Which then leads people to stop seeing others, fellow travelers in life, as not worthy beings to live as humans or express ideas, thoughts and views. For instance, a member of a Sufi group will see his path or group as the only true form of Sufism and superior to other Sufi groups, pityingly looking at others with the eye of,

‘you have lost the true form of Sufism and my group is the only one who has the true form. why not come over to my group?’

This mentality funnels down from the peer or shaykh of the group due the onslaught of words on how they are the true inheritors of the Prophetic ways sallahu alihi wasallam. This is the case with almost all groups within Islam: Sunnis Vs Shia, the sunnis Vs sunnis and infra-Sunni groups as well. A member of a salafie group will look condescendingly towards other salafie groups on the pretext of,

“they have lost the true way of the salaf and my group is the only true one”

If someone is to break the seal of the honour of the Prophet sallahu alihi wasallam by insults and ridicule, then it is up to the state to determine the outcome following judicial process. It is not allowed for the common man of everyday life to take it on himself to determine the outcome; become the judge, jury and executioner. This is another problem in within conservative groups, if a judgement is issued by the rightful authority of the land, then ‘scholars’ with vested interest who do not agree with the verdict will call on all the true ‘lovers of the Prophet sallahu alihi wasallam’ i.e their followers to take it on themselves to issue out the ‘real’ judgement sidelining the actual verdict given. This in turn leads to the rise of mob rule and gangs of religious fanatics who take on the role of the mafia by gunning down, beating up or downing out opposing views of anyone other than their own. This is the sad state of affairs: the secularists blame all the ills of society on the lynching mafia scholars, who coerce their followers into carrying out acts of violence and religious folks blame the secularists for deserting the religious values and causing new fitna to emerge in society.